Many common health myths and misconceptions exist and have been widely accepted as facts. You may have heard of some of these: cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis, cold weather makes you sick, or eating certain foods such as cayenne pepper can burn fat.
Thanks to scientific research, we have explored many of these old wives’ tales to determine if they are indeed myths or facts. Here is the truth provided behind five common health myths:
1. Myth: Cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis.
Truth: Several studies have shown that frequently cracking your knuckles does not increase the risk of arthritis; however, it may lead to reduced grip strength.
2. Myth: Cold weather makes you sick.
Truth: Cold weather in itself does not make you sick. However, research shows that certain germs and viruses may spread more easily because frigid temperatures can make our immune cells less effective.
3. Myth: Eating certain foods such as grapefruit and cayenne pepper can burn fat.
Truth: While some foods can help increase your metabolism or make you feel fuller, which can contribute to weight loss; there aren’t any that can burn excess fat.
4. Myth: You need eight glasses of water per day.
Truth: There is no set number for how much water you should drink daily. Determining how much water you should drink each day depends on several factors including weather or the climate you live in, age, or how much sweat you are producing. The National Council on Aging shares, “You should take one-third of your body weight and drink that number of ounces in fluids daily. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, aim to drink 50 oz., or a little over 6 cups, of water each day.”
5. Myth: If you pull out a single gray hair from your scalp, more will grow back in its place.
Truth: There is only one hair that grows from each follicle; therefore, plucking a single gray hair will not result in the growth of multiple hairs.
It is important to learn the facts about our health from trusted and reliable medical resources. Receiving accurate information can help us make educated decisions and avoid complications.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.